Work, Working Out, Working on Me

There has been a lot of exploration in so many aspects of my life. One being this blog. It’s something I consistently talk about wanting to dedicate myself to, but somehow I always fall off track. But I’m here — I’m back! Today, I want to talk about my most recent mantra: work, working out, and working on me. I think so many of us can relate to each one of those segments, and I want to connect with you on them.

This year has been one helluva ride. So much change, both good and bad, and a wealth of growth and knowledge. I think, albeit the challenges, there is something so beautiful and so gratifying about navigating through “what life throws at you.” Seeing how much I’ve developed over the past year has given me a new sense of self and appreciation. I appreciate my good fortune. I appreciate my solid relationships. I appreciate my health. SO much to be appreciative for every single day.

WORK

The one thing many of us dread: work. For nearly six months, I absolutely despised the work I was doing. I was miserable everyday and felt like I couldn’t find a way out. The benefits were great, the pay was good, but the environment spewed toxicity. The company had a nifty business idea which I was absolutely onboard for, but the deceit the company carried far outweighed any of the positive being an employee for them offered. So, I finally decided it was time for a change.

I began a loose search for something that inspired me. That challenged me healthily but also incorporated things I enjoy (you gotta like where you work, right?). When Bowie broke his elbow last month (he recovered amazingly well in case you were wondering), we were sitting at the vet’s office. Half facetiously, I turn to Brandon and say, “I should apply here.” He gives a serious look and says, “You really should, you’d be great here.” It had me take a double thought about it, and I decided to see if they had any openings. Sure enough, they did! I applied at a nearby location, and within two hours did a phone interview and scheduled an in-person interview. I received an offer for the position that same day.

Leaving my prior workplace was a godsend. Working at my currently workplace has gifted me so much more in one month than my previous job did in six. I have developed amazing relationships with my colleagues, and they have been incredibly helpful in my learning process. I love that I get to work with animals, kind people, and discover a new skill of mine in the veterinary industry. It has been such a joy to be in a much healthier and happier work environment, and I find myself hungry to learn more and further adapt into my role.

WORKING OUT

Back in May, Brandon and I decided to adapt to a healthier lifestyle. His goal was to shed a small amount of fat and tone, and my goal was to basically drop the weight of a medium-sized dog. We began to workout and eat healthier (which not only saved us from fatty foods, but it also saved us so much money from eating out). We laid out our goals and set aside a “meal plan” for each days that I was at B’s house or that he was at mine. With a plan in action, we jumpstarted our healthy living!

We utilized our Apple Watches to track our health and fitness activities. We synced our watches with MyFitnessPal and logged our food on there. I love this method because it definitely helps keep me accountable. Additionally, using MFP really allows you dive a little deeper into where your nutrition is at. We got kind of crafty with our grub, including pastas, meats, snacks, etc. I also am a water fiend. Sparkling water is a nice substitute to pop, too. I fancy Sparkling Ice or Clear Water. Through exercising 5x/week, eating better, and being nice to my body, I lost 30 lbs.! It was insane to see the progress my body made through each pound of fat lost and muscle gained.

Unfortunately, due to high stress levels from my previous job, I began to heavily stress eat and stopped working out. It impacted not only my mental health but also my physical health. I did gain back a lot of what I lost, but I’m not defeated. Brandon and I have already rebuilt a plan to get back on track. We also invested in a couple of neat tools to help further our progression in our fitness journey. I intend to post about different meals, workouts, and progress throughout our journey! So, if you have any delicious and healthy recipes, send them my way please!

WORKING ON ME

I think anybody’s who’s anybody can agree that self-growth and development so crucial to your overall health. I would have never thought a year ago that I would be where I’m at today. 365 days ago, I was in the deepest pit of depression. It consumed my entire being and my ability to work and live. It caused me to enter extremely toxic relationships and gravitate towards the worst of what could be offered to me. Long story short, it put me in a place I never want to be in again.

On New Years, I decided the first thing I wanted to do as a “resolution” was start and end each day on a positive note. Regardless of how awful a day may have gone, I wanted to wake up and go to bed feeling a sense of happiness. It’s funny how something as simple as that has made such a drastic change in my life. A endless list of good came from this mindset. I met my soulmate, found my perfect place I call home, gained a new family member with my pup, and have found a job I love. Positive mindsets really are powerful!

As of now, I’m excited for the holidays. As many of you know, Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday. I also have a trip to Los Angeles that’s in just over a week. My best friend of 20 years is also coming out to Nashville for her very first time to explore what the eastern half of the U.S. has to offer. As I sit and reflect on everything I’ve written thus far, I can’t help but feel a blanket of gratitude. I am so fortunate to have such amazing people in my life to push me and guide me.

There is still so much more I want to chat about! Many of you saw my post on Facebook and on Twitter in search of an O+/- kidney donor for my brother. I want to extend a HUGE thank you to all who have shared and offered to get more information on potentially being a match. I will soon be making another post elaborating a little bit more on that. If you have any questions about it, please ask! I will be including a FAQ when I post about this.

I hope everyone has had such a wonderful holiday season so far. I can’t wait to connect with you all more!